The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1887-11-09
NEW Works. MARKETS FOR WIVES.
The Four Great Matrimonial Marts OF
the Metropolis.

Philadelphia Press
The four great markets for wives in New
York are the Sunday schools, the big stores
and factories, the street and the boarding
houses. l have purposely arranged them in
the order above because the greatest matri-
mOnial markets are the Sunday schools and
the least are, tue boarding houses. Mar
rlIges are made in boarding houses, but the
average boarding-house keepers daughter is
more apt to end an old maid than {. wife.
The reason is that it seems not to be good for
the girs Tor men to see them too much or in
100 varied range OF employment. It takes
the romance and poetry out OF the wife
hunters head and the charm from a girls
personality for her to be seen on her knees
svrubbing. or with her head in towel
sweeping, or sitting ashes III a sloyenly
wrapper. OF course, there are girls who can
do every sort or houseEGrk with such an air
and grace that even leyei-headed lover will
try to steal the broom or ashes sitter she has
held in order to have it for keepsake, but
those girls are not APP to be developed in the
dun and cruel grind OF boarding house rou-
tine.
In the Sunday schools the girls look their
very best. Not only do thousands oil tender
hearted young fellows attend thesG III order
to develop circle OF lady friends for them
selves, but just 50 do the myriad young
women, who are either here without their
families or who are shut up III factories all
day and live, in parlorless. tenen,ents by
night, seek the same religious resorts for
similar ends. 1t is a curious function that
New York Sunday schools perform. They
are resorted to by about roo Cinnamon, who
go there simply to learn English. and by
thousands OF Christians who go there to get
mated.
When I say The big shopping stores are
great l,iatrlmonlat markets | 90 not mean to
have it inferred that the girls who stand be-
male customers they wait upon. Such things
do happen, l suppose, but not frequently
enough for consideration, the fact being
that nothing could be worse for counter
girl in & big New York store than for her to
be courted while on duty. Ii her employers
did not discharge her the other girls would
torment her beyond endurance. Meetings
between the girls and their beaux on the
way home from work are not to be taken
into consideration, for the leases go home in
troops, and are 1Gerc!less teasars, 50 that this
is also u rere occurrence. One of the big
shopping stores, by the way, employs detec-
tiVeB to see that no Young fellows hang about
the store at closing time to meet the counter
girls But there IL field for matrimo,ly that
ID directly in the stores, and Is exceedingly
fruitful. The male anp!oyess buyers, heads
OF departments, men Cl5rGs, cashiers, ana
even the members OF The firms get very many
wives from among the girls whom they meet
every day and grow to admire, ii their quail
ties are such a. recoGpleGd them. Acquaint-
auces thus made Lead TO visits at the girls
homes, to evening CoIapaliionship, and to
wedloci. ThcNe same men and women in
the big storea, by the why. are among the
There are actually streets set aside for
courtehip by The; parl2rieSSs poor. Upper
Eighth avenue, where the little shops are:
lower Second avenue, past tie houses OF
the old fogy rich, and the bottom OF Broad
way, where all the great shipping and ex-
press offices are closed and dark--there are
the great Irritation pgomenades of the tene-
ment boys and girls. There are stupid folks
who see the long, PROFESSIONS OF giggling
girls, in their best bows and streamcrs, and
ina CINE them to be off the path Of virtue,
or slipping OFF. Eu5 these are not the places
where such girls are found, and he who
thinks il OF these girls had better not pre-.
sume upon his Ignorance, or be will lind
them well able to take care Of themselves.
No; they nave put on their second best
gowns and the young mechanics and porsers
have puS on their best coats and plNstercd
their locks with oil, and both sexes have
sailed ont to meet and Hirt and pair oil and
walk home They don't kaowi it, but they
cannon helm doing 60 IJ'S uatIire